Please note! The Swedish National Agency for Higher Education was closed down on 31 December 2012. Instead two new agencies have been established: the Swedish Council for Higher Education and the Swedish Higher Education Authority. This website will continue to operate as the new agencies will have links to information it contains.

Third cycle (doctoral) degree awarding powers

From 1 January 2010 the higher education institutions may apply for entitlement to award third-cycle qualifications in a specific field. The institution itself specifies the field in which it wishes to arrange a third-cycle programme and applies to the Swedish National Agency for Higher Education for the appropriate degree-awarding powers. These applications normally involve PhD programmes or doctorates in the fine, applied or performing arts.

The Swedish National Agency for Higher Education is empowered to withdraw degree-awarding powers in a third-cycle subject or research field.